Just finished Growth Talk by John Campbell and Chris Munro on my flight back to Shanghai. If you're a leader who wants better everyday conversations (not formal coaching, just actual useful chats), this is it. Even has a checklist I'm printing for my desk.

In a hotel in Bangkok. Hotel room TV. UK news channels: no BBC, no SKY, just this 😳 I watched for five minutes and got too angry at the nonsense

Most school change dies because we rush to solutions. Yesterday at Festival of Education: introduced the double diamond model. Expand thinking, align on goal, expand solutions, then act. The "what else?" question changes everything.

We map four classroom leadership roles: motivator, project manager, facilitator, and advocate. Which role would your quieter students try first? buff.ly/1UTmcTi

Behind the mic: Maureen’s classroom moment stuck with me all week. A tiny story that gives you a ready-made activity. Hear it here: buff.ly/1UTmcTi

Try this: after a discussion, students set a one-minute micro-goal and reflect for 60 seconds. It builds reflection tolerance without drama. Full episode: buff.ly/1UTmcTi #EducationalLeadership

@drewperkins.bsky.social is dangerously good at asking questions. #ChangeStartsHere #podcasts #EduSky www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VY_...

Thanks for inviting me on the show, drew. What an honour!

Why do students avoid reflection? We talk about a study that shows many find quiet thinking aversive, and how to fix that with 60-second routines. Listen: buff.ly/1UTmcTi

I used to think leaders were born, not taught. Maureen’s chocolate-milk story changed that for me. Tiny routines, small risks, big difference. New ep: buff.ly/1UTmcTi #SchoolLeadership

Recorded this episode after coaching a head of department who dreaded difficult conversations. We rehearsed, not theorised — and it worked. Listen: buff.ly/0isO1yg

Join Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning as they reflect on November's Education Leaders podcast episodes. This is your show so please join in the comments or call in at educationleaders.live Save the date below: youtube.com/live/5ZJPo6Z...

If you feel overwhelmed in leadership, it’s not just more hours you need. It’s fewer decisions that steal your focus. New episode: buff.ly/0isO1yg

This will be 🔥

Saturday afternoon out re-reading a favourite from Amy Edmondson. Have so many new books to read but I can’t help myself. Do you do the same? #edusky

It’s a haunted house, but instead of ghosts it’s full of EdD/PhD students nightmares…

I have the best job in the world! Check out all these awesome people on Education Leaders.

I have the best job in the world! Check out all these awesome people on Education Leaders.

💬 "Little progress has been made in opening up positions of power, with those from private schools maintaining a vice-like grip on the most important roles." Positions of power in Britain are still dominated by a sliver of the population. More ⤵️ elitistbritain.suttontrust.com

Yesterday, we spent an hour reflecting on October's Education Leaders podcast episodes with community jumping in. Solution focused approaches. Cognitive overload. The stuff that actually matters. So much value in one conversation.

Shane and Chris just went live to reflect on October’s episodes from Education Leaders podcast. They discussed solution-focused leadership, leading without being needed, formative assessment, and beating cognitive overload. Missed it? Watch the full conversation here: youtu.be/VtdAXsJUFVI?...

We are live now. Join us: youtube.com/live/U-U7x5W... #EducationLeaders #EduSky

“Make the basics automatic.” Practised one meeting template and my anxious Sunday evenings changed. I explain how: buff.ly/0isO1yg #EducationalLeadership

Soooooo much to discuss today. Chris and I hope to see you there! Set your reminder below! youtube.com/live/U-U7x5W...

Trust in character or trust in competence. What's more important to you? Inspired here by the work of Stephen M. R. Covey, introduced and brought to life for me by the brilliant Andy Buck. #trust #leadership #character

Why do routine meetings make leaders exhausted? Because every meeting feels improvised. I share a simple fix in the latest episode. Worth trying this week: buff.ly/0isO1yg

People kept telling me I was a great teacher. Then I got promoted and suddenly everything was hard. Turns out it wasn't me being rubbish at leadership - it was all the daily stuff eating my brain. New ep: buff.ly/0isO1yg #SchoolLeadership

Mini whiteboards, one sharp question, a quick verification — small routines that show if your reteach worked. I’m already imagining how to ask for these in lesson sampling next term. Full conversation here: buff.ly/aegDkDT #EducationalLeadership

Schools are brilliant at adding stuff. Terrible at removing it. We value what we've got more than we should (endowment effect). Are you holding onto too much in your school? #edusky #changestartshere

Teaser: we talk about three real traps — tool-first thinking, data overload, and handing decision-power too soon. If your school is drowning in signals and short on action, this episode gives simple fixes. buff.ly/aegDkDT #SchoolImprovement

Behind the mic, Valentina reminded me teachers need time in that awkward learning phase — we shouldn't rush them to "perform." Her five-step approach (orient & predict first) feels strangely practical and humane. Listen here: buff.ly/aegDkDT

Genuinely excited about this. Co-delivering @teacherdevtrust.bsky.social's CPD Leadership qualification in Asia from November. It's what rewired my thinking on professional development years ago. Contextualised for international schools too! Apply here: buff.ly/2ujC07m

Mini whiteboards, one sharp question, a quick verification — small routines that show if your reteach worked. I’m already imagining how to ask for these in lesson sampling next term. Full conversation here: buff.ly/aegDkDT #EducationalLeadership

We keep piling strategy courses onto exhausted leaders. But you can't think about vision when you're still stressed about tomorrow's meeting. Get the basics down first. Learn more: www.shaneleaning.com/intensive

What will the teacher do next because of this evidence? I keep asking myself that after this conversation. Valentina’s mirror question idea made that simple follow-up feel like a tiny leadership superpower. New episode: buff.ly/aegDkDT

I hadn’t realised how often "formative checks" mutate into dashboard fodder until Valentina called it that — a lethal mutation that kills the point of checking. If you want assessment that actually makes teachers change what they do next, listen in: buff.ly/aegDkDT #SchoolLeadership

Pre-orders for Succeeding as a Deputy Head have pushed it to the #1 spot and reviews from @scottinghatt.bsky.social, @shaneleaning.com & @hugheshaili.bsky.social have filled @mradamkohlbeck.bsky.social and I with nothing but pride. You can get your copy here: amzn.eu/d/76iYHbG

This travelling life has its perks. After meeting Melasti Wijsen yesterday looking forward to tucking in to this great book

We talk Messi, ruthless focus, and why leaders should aim to be redundant. One story made me reconsider my own diary. I think you’ll spot yourselves in this. buff.ly/wwJ8oJE

You know that feeling when an idea just resonates? Like it hits your chest somehow? That's what good school change should feel like. Not another policy document gathering dust, but something that keeps ringing long after the meeting ends. #edusky #leadership

Behind the mic: Brett told me about hiding in a tiny office to get real work done. That honest image stuck with me — and explains a lot about protecting focus. buff.ly/wwJ8oJE

70% of change fails. Educators yesterday: hands up if you've seen changes disappear. Every hand. Seen "new" initiatives that were actually old ones repackaged? More hands. We're not grumpy. We're change fatigued. Maybe stop doing changes that won't last past year two? #SchoolChange #edusky

Brett said: “About 80% of a teacher’s day is pre-determined before they even start.” We talk about what that means for focus, planning and workload. Listen: buff.ly/02iA9vQ #EducationalLeadership

You know you’ve made it when you get banners

I was chatting with Brett Griffin about timetables. What if the structures we rely on stop people from doing their best? Worth thinking about. New ep: buff.ly/wwJ8oJE

Airplane reading today a’la andybuckleadership.bsky.social

I used to think being visible was the same as being effective. I chatted with Brett Griffin about why stepping back often helps leaders do better. New ep: buff.ly/02iA9vQ #SchoolLeadership

It’s airport time 🪿 🍺 ✈️ Shanghai 🇨🇳- Bali 🇮🇩 It’s for work I promise!

The team is expanding! Skylah-Rose Stuurman joins from the Netherlands as production assistant. Thrilled to have her helping keep Education Leaders growing sustainably.

Bangkok schools: Change management workshop available 6th Nov (maybe 5th pm). I'm there for Valentina David masterclass + Festival of Ed but got one day free. Workshop or strategy session with your leadership team? DM fast. Share with Bangkok mates!